He rises, contends with the morning glare streaming through his window, scans his heap of neglect.

The refrigerator hums.

He yawns, languors toward the kitchenette, kicks the fridge. The humming stops.He enters an adjoining room - a toilet flushes, succeeded by a surge of water pelting his tub. His boxers flop onto the floor.

Steam escapes.

His telephone rings.

His soapy hand reaches for the phone, picks up the receiver, retreats into the bathroom.

MARK (O.S.) (CONT'D)Hello. Hey. Had the weirdest dream last night. I'll tell ya about it later, I'm in the fricken' shower.(pause)Yep, today's the big day I tell them.

EXT. BEST CONSTRUCTION SITE - MORNING Mark enters, punches his time card, grabs a hard hat from a shelf and walks toward the site office.

INT. OFFICE - MORNINGPAUL BEST, early 50's, greying, dressed in a moderately expensive suit, sits on his desk flipping through a Building Code Manual.

Mark enters. Paul smiles.

PAULGood morning.

Mark sits, places his hard hat on the floor. No response.

PAUL (CONT'D)You look like shit.

MARKThanks.

Mark slouches, rubs his head.

PAULHeadache?

MARK(nods)Very.

A brief silence.

PAULYou sure about this, Mark?

MARKYes, dad. This job is not me.

PAULWhat time's your interview with the university?

MARKTen. Monday morning.

PAULGood luck with that.(pause)Never thought you to be a teacher.

MARKA teacher's assistant.

PAULAssistant, teacher, same difference.

MARKWell, I'm full of surprises.

PAULI guess.

MARKYou're pissed?

PAULNo.

MARKYou are.

PAULYour replacement is in the coffee lounge. His name is Frank Pino. A god damn wop, but comes highly recommended. Bring him up to date.